College of Medicine & Dentistry

Dr Moran began his training in vascular research within the Centre for Research in Vascular Biology, University of Queensland. The two-year research project for the award of Master of Science investigated the effect of human leukemia inhibitory factor on the development of experimental atherosclerosis in an animal model of carotid artery occlusive disease. Project outcomes were recognized with Dr Moran awarded the Australian Vascular Biology Society's inaugural Young Investigator Prize for this work. Dr Moran received his PhD from James Cook University in 2006 after completing a research program investigating the role of Osteoprotegerin in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). He then undertook consecutive postdoctoral appointments within the Vascular Biology Unit at JCU after winning the National Heart Foundation of Australia’s John Shaw and the Queensland Government Smart Futures Fellowships. Dr Moran continues as a Senior Research Scientist (preclinical) within the Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease (QRC-PVD) at JCU.

Research:

Dr Moran’s research focuses upon cellular mechanisms involved in AAA initiation and progression. Dr Moran’s expertise in this field is evidenced by a numerous publications in quality cardiovascular journals including Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, European Heart Journal, and Circulation. He has developed an extensive skill base and high-level proficiency in the development, characterization, and assessment of in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models of vascular disease. His scientific training to date has been geared to develop a solid research foundation in the field of artery disease, with a primary focus on understanding pathological weakening of the human aorta, identifying potential drug-based intervention strategies, and in vivo drug delivery systems for the treatment of AAA. A developing area of interest for Dr Moran is the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in accelerated senescence and impaired growth of vascular smooth muscle cells associated with aortic wall degeneration, and can how this can be targeted as early intervention to limit expansion of small AAA.

Student Supervision:

Dr Moran has (co)-supervised 2 PhD students to completion. The success of these students is evidenced by publication of multiple papers, conference presentations, and academic awards during their candidatures, and their current professional appointments as Immunologist at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK, and Associate Professor at Dalian University, China. Dr Moran currently co-supervises 1 Masters and 1 PhD student.

· Reviewer for a range of journals including Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Circulation Research, PloS, and International Journal of Molecular Sciences

· Grant reviewer for a range of funding bodies including Diabetes Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3R, London), and JCU funding schemes.

National Health & Medical Research Council - Project Grant

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is estimated to be responsible for 2000 sudden deaths each year in Australia. AAAs can be readily identified when they are small but there are currently no effective medical therapies to limit complications in patients that have such AAAs. We hypothesise that interventions inhibiting the FXII-kallikrein pathway will limit progression of established AAAs within pre-clinical models and have other important secondary benefits such as the reduction of atherosclerosis progression.

Dr Moran began his training in vascular research within the Centre for Research in Vascular Biology, University of Queensland. The two-year research project for the award of Master of Science investigated the effect of human leukemia inhibitory factor on the development of experimental atherosclerosis in an animal model of carotid artery occlusive disease. Project outcomes were recognized with Dr Moran awarded the Australian Vascular Biology Society's inaugural Young Investigator Prize for this work. Dr Moran received his PhD from James Cook University in 2006 after completing a research program investigating the role of Osteoprotegerin in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). He then undertook consecutive postdoctoral appointments within the Vascular Biology Unit at JCU after winning the National Heart Foundation of Australia’s John Shaw and the Queensland Government Smart Futures Fellowships. Dr Moran continues as a Senior Research Scientist (preclinical) within the Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease (QRC-PVD) at JCU.